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TL;DR
This cross-sectional study analyzed Wikipedia skin disease pages and found that images of skin of color (SOC) were significantly underrepresented (20.7%) compared to non-SOC images (79.3%).
JMIR Dermatology · 4 authors, 3 centres
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This cross-sectional study analyzed Wikipedia skin disease pages and found that images of skin of color (SOC) were significantly underrepresented (20.7%) compared to non-SOC images (79.3%).
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 421 Wikipedia skin disease pages containing 949 images that met inclusion criteria. Three independent raters categorized images as SOC (Fitzpatrick types 4-6) or non-SOC (types 1-3) and rated their quality (sharpness, size/resolution, lighting/exposure) on a 1-3 scale. The central result was a significant underrepresentation of SOC images, which comprised only 20.7% of the total. There was no statistically significant difference in the average quality rating between SOC (2.05) and non-SOC (2.03) images. Limitations included the use of the subjective Fitzpatrick system for categorization and a narrow quality rating scale that may not capture all aspects of image quality. The authors conclude that Wikipedia pages should be updated to include more SOC photos to improve access to accurate dermatology information and promote health equity.